IU Health North Bariatrics transforms Linda McElhiney's life

By Emma Avila, epackard1@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health’s Indianapolis Suburban Region

Linda McElhiney transformed her health after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery with the IU Health North Bariatrics team. Now, she stays engaged with the team through support groups and participates in the annual Walk From Obesity event at IU Health North.

When Linda McElhiney looks back at her life nine years ago, it was very different. Now, she thanks the Bariatrics team at IU Health North for her healthier life.

McElhiney first met with the IU Health North Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team in 2014. At the time, she was on medications for diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, all linked to her weight and lifestyle. She knew she wanted surgery, but she had to meet the qualifications first.

“Even though I’m a pharmacist and I knew better, my diabetes was out of control,” she says. “I was really on the edge of qualifying for surgery. I had to get my diabetes under control.”

She also worked with the team on education for the surgery, her diet and lifestyle changes.

Undergoing surgery

In September of 2015, McElhiney was able to get Gastric sleeve surgery, also known as sleeve gastrectomy. It is a surgical procedure that removes part of the stomach to help people with obesity lose weight.

“The recovery wasn’t too bad,” she says. “I didn’t have a lot of pain. I was pretty numb for the first few weeks.”

As her stomach adjusted, McElhiney ate pureed foods for the first three weeks, things like hummus. After that period, she returned to work.

The IU Health North Bariatrics team was there to help her every step of the way.

“They were great. They were very supportive,” she says. “Any questions I had, they would answer.”

Seeing the results

From her heaviest to her lowest weight, McElhiney lost just under 100 pounds. Now, nine years post-surgery, she is living a full life. She worked with her doctor and was able to go off all of her medications. She exercises regularly and has done fun activities like indoor skydiving and underground ziplining.

“Why would I want to go back to what I was? That’s my motivation,” she says. “I don’t want to go back to what I was. I’m doing things that I never dreamed I ever thought I’d do.”

She also continues her annual visits and stays engaged with the team at IU Health North through support groups.

"Linda's been a wonderful mentor and inspiration for many through our support groups,” says Garrett Swisher, registered dietitian for IU Health Physicians General Surgery and Bariatrics. “She is always willing to give advice and share hope and wisdom for others. Having patients like Linda helps make our program better for everyone and we appreciate her so much."

Walk From Obesity

Another way McElhiney gets involved is through the Treo Foundation’s Walk From Obesity, which funds research, education and access to treatment to combat obesity.

The walk this year will be held at IU Health North. Sarah Muntel, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Coordinator for IU Health Physicians Bariatrics, is the local event leader for the walk.

She says it is a way for the community, former patients and team members to come together for a great cause.

“It’s great to see the relationships between the patients and all the staff members all working toward the same cause,” she says. “A lot of the patients you remember from back when they were in pre-op. It’s a huge accomplishment. Plus, we’re all so passionate about this.”

She shared that the walk is open to anyone, even if they don’t think they can complete the full course. It is a “set your own pace” event.

“This is a very low pressure, low stress event. Some people don’t complete the entire walk, and that’s ok,” Muntel says. “People are here because they feel so passionate about obesity treatment and obesity advocacy.”

For McElhiney, the walk is a way to reinforce the choices and work she has put into her new life.

“I really believe in bariatric surgery. I still think this is the absolute way to go,” she says. “I just think that the most important thing is that some people are afraid of failing, but if you follow what the team advises, I haven’t gained any of my weight back.”

The Walk From Obesity will be held at IU Health North in Carmel on Saturday, September 21, at 9 am. Learn more here.